Scalby Tennis Club teams get their season off to a strong start
Scalby Tennis Club began the new Driffield League season with a series of encouraging results, reflecting both the strength of its established players and the positive impact of several new additions.
The Mixed A team got off to an excellent start with an 8-1 win at home to Hutton Cranswick A.
Under sunny late April skies, the team settled quickly and produced a composed, consistent performance across all pairings.
Newcomer Milly Sidaway, partnering Jack Boddy, made an immediate impression by winning all three of their matches while conceding just seven games.
Louise Tomlinson and Rich Stacey were equally reliable, also taking three wins from three.
Julie Boddy, playing her first match for the team alongside husband Simon, contributed two further victories and almost made it a clean sweep for Scalby.
Both Sidaway and Julie Boddy added depth and confidence to the side, which will be important as the season develops.
There was also a notable result for the club’s newly-formed Mixed B team, who travelled to Hackness and Scarborough for their first-ever league fixture and returned with a win.
Toby Shaw and Maaike Karrimans set the tone by winning all three of their matches.
The remaining players, three of whom were making their league debuts, each contributed a point – Lauren Asquith playing with John Mathers and Matt Haxby with partner Steph Pride all getting on the scoresheet.
It was a well-earned result and a great start for a new team finding its feet.
In the Ladies’ Division 1, Scalby faced a challenging fixture at last season’s champions, Market Weighton A.
Captain Louise Tomlinson and Milly Sidaway were the standout pairing, winning all three of their rubbers with a combination of strong ground strokes as well as confident and effective net play.
This was Sidaway’s first experience playing on grass, making her performance particularly noteworthy.
Maaike Karrimans and Julie Boddy, playing together for the first time, came close to adding further points, reaching two tie-breaks in tightly-contested matches.
Although they were unable to convert those opportunities, their performance suggests strong potential as a pairing.
Helen Flinton and Magda Phillips also competed well, but Weighton’s greater experience on grass courts proved decisive, with the home team winning 6-3 overall.
In the Men’s divisions, the B team were awarded a 9–0 walkover victory after Driffield were unable to field a side.
Overall, it has been a positive and encouraging start to the season for Scalby, with new players integrating well and competitive performances across all teams.
The club continues to welcome new members of all abilities, offering opportunities for both social and competitive tennis in a friendly local setting.